The biggest controversy over
lab-created stones is due to
misinformation. Lab-created stones, not to be confused with
synthetic stones, have the same physical,
molecular, and optical properties as their natural counterparts, except they are virtually flawless. On the other hand,
synthetic stones are
dyed for desired appearance. Except for diamonds, it is less expensive to grow
precious stones in the laboratory than mine or pan them, since plenty of labor costs go into mining or panning a stone barely close to the same quality as a lab-created one.
Most natural gems cost ten to twenty times more than their lab-grown counterparts (usually ruby, emerald, and sapphire), but neither is better than each other. It depends on whether gem rarity and natural beauty are prized more than flawlessness and pureness.